McAuliffe says he'll seek new gun restrictions in Virginia

[mmckee1952]

McAuliffe says he'll seek new gun restrictions in Virginia after Las Vegas massacre
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By: GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond Times-Dispatch
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Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Friday that he will seek new gun-control legislation in Virginia in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, including bans on bump stock devices, high-capacity magazines and “military-style assault rifles.”
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McAuliffe, who will leave office early next year under Virginia’s term limit, has already pushed unsuccessfully for universal background checks and restoring the state’s scrapped one-handgun-a-month law, but the Republican-controlled General Assembly has routinely blocked new gun restrictions.
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The legislation McAuliffe called for Friday would also face steep odds, but the announcement might put Republican lawmakers on the defensive with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates up for grabs in next month’s election.
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“The terrible tragedy we witnessed in Las Vegas earlier this week should be a wake-up call to leaders in every corner of this country, particularly here in Virginia, where the mass shooting at Virginia Tech taught us the heartbreak of these events firsthand,” McAuliffe said in a news release. “Elected officials who have the honor of serving here in Richmond have a responsibility to do everything we can to prevent the next mass shooting from happening in our commonwealth.”
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Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Friday that he too supports banning bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and “assault weapons.”
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“Until I do not have a breath left in my lungs, I’ll stand up for the safety and security of all Virginians,” Northam said in a statement.
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Though Republicans and gun-rights groups have resisted calls to ban assault weapons, calling the term ill-defined and overreaching, proposals to ban bump stocks appear to be building broad support. The Vegas shooter used the devices, which convert semi-automatic rifles to function as if they were fully automatic, to rapidly spray bullets into a crowd at a country music concert, killing 58 people and wounding more than 500.
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Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate for governor, said Friday that he also would support banning or regulating bump stocks.
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“It seems pretty evident to me that we rightly outlaw automatic weapons in this country and that bump stocks effectively serve to get around that law,” Gillespie said.
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Gillespie said he understands the “emotional response to do something” after a mass shooting, but data show that violent crime has gone down as gun ownership has risen.
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The head of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group that lobbies at the General Assembly every year, sent an email to his members Tuesday night urging them to “stay in the fight” after Las Vegas.
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“There is no compromising with gun controllers. Their version of compromise is for gun owners to give up everything and gun controllers to give up nothing,” wrote VCDL President Philip Van Cleave. “ And, until all guns are confiscated, the gun controllers will never, ever be satisfied.”
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Read More: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/g ... 5b0cf.html
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My Thoughts:
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The thing to take out of all of this is, Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Friday that he too supports banning bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and “assault weapons. Another set reason’s to vote for Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate for governor.

[wittmeba]

Well TM will not get this done as Gov. He is gone soon and cannot seek reelection for 4 years I believe.

Have you ever noticed how many say "We need to do something" -- but no one says what that is. They all fall back on background checks which has been clearly demonstrated to not change any of the mass shootings. They are out of suggestions and they know none of them have worked.

[MarcSpaz]

What I love about stories like this is...

They want to ban:
Bump Stocks
high-capacity magazines (anything over 10 rounds... some arbitrary number they pull out of there butt)
military-style assault rifles

But then cite the VT shooting as an example of why these bans are needed, but the VT shooting...

was carried out by a non-US citizen who cannot legally buy AR's and other "military-style" weapons.
the shooter was mentally ill
the shooter used a Wlther P22 that hold 10 rounds of 22LR
the shooter also used G19 that holds 15 rounds

So, how the heck does McAweful's plan do any good?

[MarcSpaz]

Oh.. Did I mention that the BATFE estimates (from total NICS transactions for long guns) estimates that there are 1.9 million "military-style" rifles purchased in Virginia alone in the last 10 years. Most people I know with AR and AK have anywhere from 6 to 20, 30 round magazines. Even if we assume the average owner in VA has just 6 mags... you're talking 11.5 million mags.

This legislation will never make it out of committee as long as Scott Lingamfelter sits on the "Appropriations" and "Militia, Police and Public Safety" committees.

[zykur]

Well, after yesterdays beatdown, Northam can continue McAweful's quest for gun control. If the House of Delegates flips as it looks like they might do, it's over. They will cram through every bad gun control bill. They won't wait, they will have these bills ready to sign in the first few days.

[scott9050]

Well, after yesterdays beatdown, Northam can continue McAweful's quest for gun control. If the House of Delegates flips as it looks like they might do, it's over. They will cram through every bad gun control bill. They won't wait, they will have these bills ready to sign in the first few days.

Dems up 48 seats to 47 with 5 undecided. It looks like New York and California gun control is coming to Virginia. Goodbye concealed carry, goodbye semi auto rifles, goodbye 30 round magazines, goodbye private sales.

[Reverenddel]

Well, after yesterdays beatdown, Northam can continue McAweful's quest for gun control. If the House of Delegates flips as it looks like they might do, it's over. They will cram through every bad gun control bill. They won't wait, they will have these bills ready to sign in the first few days.

Dems up 48 seats to 47 with 5 undecided. It looks like New York and California gun control is coming to Virginia. Goodbye concealed carry, goodbye semi auto rifles, goodbye 30 round magazines, goodbye private sales.

It's them 5 I hope go to the GOP...

But yet again, this is another example of what a complete Cluster the Virginia GOP has become... I'm not even GOP. I quit about a decade ago because I saw them becoming ineffective. Trying to get the Libertarians in the game ain't working either.

Just more effin' carpetbaggin' commies infesting THE (notice I didn't say "my" ) Commonwealth.

At this point? I'm planning on retiring outta this cesspool state in about 16 years. I think I can hold out.

[MarcSpaz]

I want out. I'm sick of this crap. I left Rhode Island for the same damn reasons. It's spreading like cancer...

But where can I go? West Virginia? Florida? Is there somewhere out in the South West? There is no way I'll stay here if they turn Va into another California, New York or some other north east craphole.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[ShotgunBlast]

I'm thinking South Carolina.

[scott9050]

I want out. I'm sick of this crap. I left Rhode Island for the same damn reasons. It's spreading like cancer...

But where can I go? West Virginia? Florida? Is there somewhere out in the South West? There is no way I'll stay here if they turn Va into another California, New York or some other north east craphole.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I moved to the panhandle of West Virginia and drive daily to Nova. Best move I made.

[Reverenddel]

Kentucky, and Tennessee may be a good likelihood.

I like South Carolina, but gotta research them more.

in the OLD days NORTH Carolina was an option, but with Charlotte becoming a "banking center", and Raleigh-Durham being a "Technology center" You have the same carpetbaggers there, you have here....

The worst thing to say? Find a state with nothing to lose, and everything to gain by being a staunch Libertarian/Conservative foothold in the Union.

Because the mentally ill commies, and pantywaist wus millennials ain't worth a crap at running anything, but their mouths.

[MarcSpaz]

I moved to the panhandle of West Virginia and drive daily to Nova. Best move I made.

That could work... I'm going to look into that.

Kentucky, and Tennessee may be a good likelihood.

I like South Carolina, but gotta research them more.

in the OLD days NORTH Carolina was an option, but with Charlotte becoming a "banking center", and Raleigh-Durham being a "Technology center" You have the same carpetbaggers there, you have here....

The worst thing to say? Find a state with nothing to lose, and everything to gain by being a staunch Libertarian/Conservative foothold in the Union.

Because the mentally ill commies, and pantywaist wus millennials ain't worth a crap at running anything, but their mouths.

I have considered both Kentucky and Tennessee. I need to slim down my life-style a bit, but it would be worth it in the long run.

[scott9050]

i read today that another thing they want to get rid of is open carry in Virginia. I want to see what the push back is going to be if any from this.

[MarcSpaz]

With the massive progression, on a national level, for Pro-2A laws and violent crime dropping every year as gun ownership goes up every year... I would think that it would be a hard sell. However, we are talking about a party who wants to enslave the citizens instead of being the servant of the people... so I am not optimistic.

[Viper21]

Definitely worried

As a native Virginian it's pretty frustrating to see your beloved home changed so much by outsiders. I'm sure many of my ancestors are rolling over in their graves.

I have believed for some time that I am in my last home. The thought of moving hasn't entered my mind other than eventually to the cemetery with my kin. That might have to change if NY style gun control comes to my neck of the woods. I've spent decades working my rear off to have some property & improve it to my needs, & wants. Would break my heart to leave......

[SHMIV]

Marc and Rev; I have met both of you in person, and you are both articulate. Why don't you guys run for office?

I believe that you could pull it off. I'd run, myself, but my speaking power erodes, when the group gets larger than 2 or 3 people. I'm much better with the written word.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[MarcSpaz]

Marc and Rev; I have met both of you in person, and you are both articulate. Why don't you guys run for office?

I believe that you could pull it off. I'd run, myself, but my speaking power erodes, when the group gets larger than 2 or 3 people. I'm much better with the written word.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Thank you so much for the compliment... I have given some serious thought to it, but I think I may be way too Conservative to win the hearts and minds of the majority. Maybe I'll try it one day... if I can find the financial backers.

[MarcSpaz]

H... I am bouncing the idea off my family and some other friends. If over the next month, I can get the support of the people in my life that I love and know they believe in me making a positive difference, I'll make a concerted effort to start down the path.

[SHMIV]

Too Conservative, Marc? I doubt it. That may have been true, pre-Obama, but I think folks will turn out for real Conservatives, now.

I'm not suggesting a run for Governor, right now, either. It's a tad bit late for that. But, what's coming up in '18 or '19?

Running a campaign to represent your district can't cost nearly as much as running for Governor. And, in this modern age, there are various crowd-sourcing websites.

Fairfax (I think) just elected some delusional, self-mutilating, eunuch in a dress, to represent them.

I think that the time of the Moderate has passed. We'll likely be looking at Conservatives vs. Socialists, from now on. When to Moderates run against each other, the one with the D next to his name will win. (And, then we'll find that he's not really moderate, after all.)

I believe that a Conservative, who runs as such, and avoids the PC traps, has a decent shot of running a successful campaign. Like I said, the only thing stopping me, is the fact that I can't address a crowd.

Vacating the state, though, will only serve to make it bluer. That's bad for Virginia, obviously. But, that's bad on a national level, too.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Reverenddel]

Brother, I have a cemetery in my closet, and an election would eat me alive.

The kind words are appreciated. I would be happy to back someone, and work within their organization, but putting me on the stage would be like putting Andrew Dice Clay as Poet Laureate of the U.S.